Low-income families looking to eat healthier may now use their food stamp cards at more than 80 farmers' markets around the state, according to a joint announcement today from Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez and Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher.

The new program provided the farmers' market operators to the scanning equipment so people on food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, may use their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to buy fresh produce, officials said.

"Maintaining good nutrition while living on a very limited budget is something that Food Stamp recipients wrestle with every day," Velez said at the Capital Farmer's Market on East State Street in downtown Trenton, where she and Fischer announced the program. "People who use Food Stamps now have a greater choice of where they can purchase healthy, fresh New Jersey fruits and vegetables to enhance and stretch their food dollars."

The program has enlisted 15 farmers who sell their produce at 82 farmers' markets throughout the state, officials said.

Food Stamp recipients may learn which farmer's markets in their area are accepting Food Stamps by consulting posters in their County Welfare Agency. They also should look for signs at the farmers' market that say they accept the Family First card, as not all markets are participating. For the list of participating farmers, markets, and other information, go to the state's website.